There will be 13 seminars in this unit with each seminar of being 3 hours. The seminars progress through the various Topic areas referred to in this Unit Guide. 

The timetable for classes can be found on the University web site at: https://timetables.mq.edu.au/Scientia/Web/index.html

Required and Recommended texts and/or materials

Required Text:

Michael Quilter, Company Law Perspectives (2012), Published by Thomson Reuters

Recommended extra reading/research texts:

Intermediate level:

Lipton and Herzberg, Understanding Company Law (16^th ed, 2011) (Publisher: Thomson Reuters)

Advanced level:

Austin R P; Ramsay I M, Ford’s Principles of Corporations Law (15^th ed, 2012) (Publisher Lexisnexis Butterworths)

Please see ilearn for relevant web links.

(Please note the Anderson et al, Focus Corporations Law (2009), published by Lexis Nexis, is a good support resource text but it is now too out of date)

Please Note:

1.    The seminar questions for each topic area that you must complete each week are posted on iLearn and will be discussed in the week following the topic area reading.  

Midsemester Break 16 September – 27 September

Grade descriptors and other information concerning grading are contained in the Macquarie University Grading Policy which is available at:

http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html

Macquarie University uses the following grades in coursework units of study:

HD –High Distinction

D – Distinction

CR – Credit

P – Pass

F – Fail

All final grades in the Department of Accounting and Corporate Governance are determined by a grading committee and are not the sole responsibility of the Unit Coordinator.

Macquarie University’s Academic Senate has a set of guidelines on the distribution of grades across the range from fail to high distinction.  Your final result will include one of these grades plus a Standardised Numerical Grade (SNG). The SNG is not a summation of the individual assessment components.

To be awarded a specific grade students are required to perform at an equivalent standard in the final examination and the overall assessment mark in the unit.

Knowledge of the law, the ability to apply this knowledge and the ability to analyse the relevant issues are key determinates of your performance.

Students should go beyond the prescribed text and seek to find, read and understand a broad range of research materials. From news articles to peer reviewed professional journals, students should seek out and engage with a variety of materials in this field. Some of these materials can be accessed at:

Journals:

Macquarie Journal of Business Law –

http://www.accg.mq.edu.au/accounting_finance_research/current_publications/MqJBL

Australian Journal of Corporate Law –

(Access full journal through Macquarie University Library databases)

http://www.lexisnexis.com.au/en-au/products/australian-journal-of-corporate-law.page

Company and Securities Law Journal –

(Access full journal through Macquarie University Library databases)

http://www.thomsonreuters.com.au/catalogue/ProductDetails.asp?ID=829

News:

Australia:

Business Review Week – http://www.brw.com.au/

Financial Review – http://afr.com/

Sydney Morning Herald Business – http://www.smh.com.au/business

International:

Financial Times – http://www.ft.com/home/uk

Wall Street Journal – http://asia.wsj.com/home-page

This unit is taught by way of seminars. Two main types of questions are discussed in seminars – knowledge questions and problem questions. Knowledge questions are not designed to be analytical but are used, rather, to test your knowledge of a particular topic area. Problem questions are longer and more involved. They require several skills including reading and comprehension, problem identification and problem solving. The second class test and the main parts of the final exam will be in the format of problem questions. 

What is expected of students – criteria for success

Students should take responsibility for their own learning and this will incorporate reading as required, attendance at seminars and reflection on their abilities. The capacity of each student to digest material will vary and accordingly self-assessment is necessary. The amount of focussed and effective effort a student puts in to preparation and study will generally be reflected in their performance. There are 2 main components of successful law (particularly company law) study: one is that students must have some knowledge of the core issues of the relevant topics [take short clear notes in seminars, think about your task, involve yourself in classes], the second is that students will only be successful if they can apply what they have learned, that is, in your exam you have to be able to use the law to solve problems [either multiple-choice or written answer style].

Classes should be used by students to test their understanding of the unit in an environment where immediate feedback is available from the lecturer – students should be prepared to respond to, and ask, questions – being active is an important aspect of both study and professional practice and classes will be of more benefit to all students if they are willing to participate.

Students are expected to attend classes. Where any issue arises as to a student’s performance it may be necessary to consider whether the issue of their attendance is relevant. In a simple economic sense students pay for instruction and should attend classes to get the benefit and help of their lecturer.